Spartan Weekly
News from Glen Crest Middle School: Week of 9/20/20
From the Principal
What a beautiful fall weekend! I hope you were all able to enjoy being outside for some part of the time!
Please keep encouraging your students to attend all of their classes every day! Some students are under the misperception that they do not need to login if there is not a "live" lesson being presented. There are lessons and assignments every day in every class. The only reason they are not all "live" is to help keep the amount of screen time in check for students. The asynchronous lessons posted are important for the success of the students. This is also the time when they can get help from their teachers and ask questions. If they wait to complete that lesson later, they may not have support.
We are far enough into the school year, that some grades may be slipping. In many cases, it is because the student is not completing the assignments on asynchronous days or not reaching out to their teachers or showing up for small groups with the teachers during those asynchronous class times. The halfway point for first trimester is September 29th.
PowerSchool vs Google Classroom?
Both of these tools are very important for parents! Google Classroom summaries provide you with a snapshot of what is happening in the classroom throughout the week. This is the palace to look for specific information about assignments and resources used for the class. You should have received an invitation to receive Google Classroom summaries last week.
PowerSchool is the place to monitor grades and see if there are any missing assignments. You have the ability to receive notifications about your student's grades sent to you. To turn this feature on, follow these steps:
- Log into the PowerSchool App
- Click the More button (bottom right hand corner)
- Click on Account link
- Click Notifications
- Turn on the types of notifications you want to receive (slide to green)
If you have not set up your PowerSchool account, you can contact Courtney Czerwinski at cczerwinski@ccsd89.org for your access code.
What do these grades mean??
In the screenshot below, you will see there are E, Q, T and Y grades. These letters refer to time periods during the school year.
E stands for Exploratory. Only 6th and 7th graders will receive E grades and those are for the exploratory rotation they are currently in for class. There are five rotations throughout the year (art, music, FACS, technology and health) and they are currently in the first rotation E1. In a couple of weeks they will switch to the second rotation E2.
Q stands for Quarter. Only 8th graders have quarter long classes and those are their elective rotations and health. We are currently in the first elective rotation, so you will only see a Q1 grade.
T stands for Trimester. All remaining classes are on a trimester schedule and those are the most accurate grades for the content area classes: math, science, social studies, English language arts and foreign language. PE is also on the trimester schedule.
Y stands for Year. This will be the grade for your student at the end of the school year.
The confusing part for parents is that grades will appear in more than one place, see the social studies example below. We have no way to change this in PowerSchool.
Bottom line: If you are a 6th or 7th grade parent focus on the "E" grades for the exploratory classes and the "T" grades for everything else.
If you are an 8th grade parent focus on the "Q" grades for the elective classes and the "T" grades for everything else.
News from the district
Free breakfasts, lunches available to all CCSD 89 families
All CCSD 89 families will now be able to pick up a week’s worth of free breakfasts and lunches at all five schools. Meals will be available from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, or 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Families can go to whichever school is most convenient. More info: https://bit.ly/3ihsW3m
Spanish-language presentation will give parents technology tips
The Glenbard Parent Series and the Glenbard Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee will share information in Spanish with parents about digital tools, skills, and resources you can use to partner with your student. Meeting will be held virtually at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 24. Info: https://bit.ly/3c68nVs
Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee to meet September 29
The CCSD 89 Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee will hold its information night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, via Zoom. The committee is open to families from all CCSD 89 schools. You can join the Zoom at https://ccsd89-org.zoom.us/j/87441113331
Best-selling author Jason Reynolds to speak about his book ‘Long Way Down’
The Glenbard Parent Series is hosting a virtual presentation from best-selling author Jason Reynolds. Reynolds’ book “Long Way Down” was selected as this year’s community read. The book, written in free verse, is told from the perspective of a teenage boy mourning the death of his brother and contemplating revenge. Reynolds is a best-selling New York Times author, a Newbery Award Honoree, National Book Award finalist, and recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors. This event will be held virtually at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 29. Info: https://bit.ly/32AViAp
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 21: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.
September 22: Glenbard Parent Series: “Strategies for Success”, 7 p.m.
September 24: Glenbard Parent Series: “Technology and Training for Foster School Success” (Spanish) 7 p.m.
September 29: Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee, 6:30 p.m.
September 29: Glenbard Parent Series: Author Jason Reynolds, 7 p.m.
October 9: Half day (morning attendance)
October 12: No school (Columbus Day)
October 19: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.
November 3: No school (Election Day)
CCSD 89 on-line backpack
Most recent fliers:
Glen Ellyn Library E-Learning Resources
Butterfield Park District Camp Connection
Glenbard Parent Series 2020-21 schedule
Butterfield Park District REC Kids before- and after-school program
STEM Lab and Arts & Maker at DuPage Children’s Museum
Need support during remote learning?
Remote learning: www.ccsd89.org/COVID
General questions: info@ccsd89.org (630) 545-3581
Food: lparker@ccsd89.org (630) 545-3507
Technology: www.ccsd89.org/howto or support@ccsd89.org (630) 545-3594
Counseling: kmalmstedt@ccsd89.org (630) 545-3517
Special-education: lpeterson@ccsd89.org (630) 545-3515
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Glen Crest Middle School
Attendance phone: (630) 858-1844
Daily announcementsEmail: info@ccsd89.org
Website: www.ccsd89.org/glencrest
Location: Glen Crest Middle School, Sheehan Avenue, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA
Phone: (630) 469-5220
Facebook: facebook.com/CCSD89
Twitter: @GlenCrestMS